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r four hundred killed or taken； among which their leader； Wallis； and seven ministers they having all taken the Covenant a few days before； and sworn to live and die in it； as they did； and so all is likely to be there quiet again。 There is also the very good news come of four New…England ships come home safe to Falmouth with masts for the King； which is a blessing mighty unexpected； and without which （if for nothing else） we must； have failed the next year。 But God be praised for thus much good fortune； and send us the continuance of his favour in other things！
6th。 After dinner my wife and brother ＇John Pepys； who； being in holy orders； had lately assumed the canonical habit。 He died in 1677； at which period he held some office in the Trinity…house。 PEPYS'S MS。 LETTERS。＇ （in another habit） go out to see a play； but I am not to take notice that I know of my brother's going。 This day； in the Gazette； is the whole story of defeating of Scotch rebells； and of the creation of the Duke of Cambridge； Knight of the Garter。
7th。 To the King's playhouse； where two acts were almost done when I come in； and there I sat with my cloak about my face； and saw the remainder of 〃The Mayd's Tragedy；〃 ＇By Beaumont and Fletcher。＇ a good play； and well acted； especially by the younger Marshall； who is become a pretty good actor； and is the first play I have seen in either of the houses； since before the great plague； they having acted now about fourteen days publickly。 But I was in mighty pain； lest I should be seen by any body to be at a play。
8th。 The great Proviso passed the House of Parliament yesterday： which makes the King and Court mad； the King having given order to my Lord Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and brothels； to bid all the Parliament…men that were there to go to the Parliament presently。 This is true； it seems； but it was carried against the Court by thirty or forty voices。 It is a Proviso to the Poll Bill； that there shall be a Committee of nine persons that shall have the inspection upon oath； and power of giving others； of all the accounts of the money given and spent for this warr。 This hath a most sad face； and will breed very ill blood。 He tells me； brought in by Sir Robert Howard； ＇A younger son of Thomas Earl of Berkshire； educated at Magdalene College； Cambridge； knighted at the Restoration； and chosen M。P。 for Stockbridge； and afterwards for Castle Rising。 He was Auditor of the Exchequer； and a creature of Charles II。； who employed him in cajoling the Parliament for money。 He published some poems； plays； and political tracts。 Ob。 1698。＇ who is one of the King's servants； at least hath a great office； and hath got； they say； 20；000l。 since the King come in。 Mr。 Pierce did also tell me as a great truth； as being told it by Mr。 Cowly； ＇Abraham Cowley； the poet。＇ who was by and heard it； that Tom Killigrew should publickly tell the King that his matters were coming into a very ill state； but that yet there was a way to help all。 Says he； 〃There is a good； honest； able man that I could name； that if your Majesty would employ； and command to see all things well executed； all things would soon be mended； and this is one Charles Stuart； who now spends his time in employing his lips about the Court； and hath no other employment； but if you would give him this employment； he were the fittest man in the world to perform it。〃 This； he says； is most true； but the King do not profit by any of this； but lays all aside； and remembers nothing； but to his pleasures again： which is a sorowful consideration。 To the King's play…house； and there did see a good part of 〃The English Monsieur；〃 ＇A comedy； by James Howard。＇ which is a mighty pretty play； very witty and pleasant。 And the women do very well； but above all； little Nelly。 I hear that this Proviso in Parliament is mightily ill taken by all the Court party as a mortal blow； and that that strikes deep into the King's prerogative； which troubles me mightily。 In much fear of ill news of our colliers。 A fleet of 200 sail； and 14 Dutch men…of… war between them and us： and they coming home with small convoy； and the City in great want； coals being at 3l。 3s。 per chaldron； as I am told。 I saw smoke in the ruines this very day。
10th。 Captain Cocke； with whom I walked in the garden； tells me how angry the Court is at the late Proviso brought in by the House。 How still my Lord Chancellor is； not daring to do or say any thing to displease the Parliament； that the Parliament is in a very ill humour； and grows every day more and more so； and that the unskilfulness of the Court； and their difference among one another； is the occasion of all not agreeing in what they would have； and so they give leisure and occasion to the other part to run away with what the Court would not have。
11th。 This day the Poll Bill was to be passed； and great endeavours used to take away the Proviso。
12th。 Sir H。 Cholmly did with grief tell me how the Parliament hath been told plainly that the King hath been heard to say； that he would dissolve them rather than pass this Bill with the Proviso。 But tells me； that the Proviso is removed； and now carried that it shall be done by a Bill by itself。 He tells me how the King hath lately paid above 30；000l。 to clear the debts of my Lady Castlemaine's； and that she and her husband are parted for ever； upon good terms； never to trouble one another more。 He says that he hears that above 400；000l。 hath gone into the Privy… purse since this warr； and that that hath consumed so much of our money； and makes the King and Court so mad to be brought to discover it。 The very good newes is just come of our four ships from Smyrna； come safe without convoy even into the Downes； without seeing any enemy； which is the best； and indeed only considerable good news to our Exchange； since the burning of the City； and it is strange to see how it do cheer up men's hearts。 Here I saw shops now come to be in this Exchange； and met little Batelier who sits here but at 3l。 per annum； whereas he sat at the other at 100l。； which he says he believes will prove as good account to him now as the other did at that rent。 They talk for certain； that now the King do follow Mrs。 Stewart wholly； and my Lady Castlemaine not above once a…week； that the Duke of York do not haunt my Lady Denham so much； that she troubles him with matters of State； being of my Lord Bristoll's faction； and that he avoids； that she is ill still。 News this day from Brampton； of Mr。 Ensum； my sister's sweetheart； being dead： a clowne。
13th。 W。 Hewer dined with me； and showed me a Gazette； in April last； （which I wonder should never be remembered by any body；） which tells how several persons were then tried for their lives； and were found guilty of a design of killing the King； and destroying the Government； and as a means to it； to burn the City； and that the day intended for the plot was the 3rd of last September。 And the fire did indeed break out on the 2nd of September： which is very strange； methinks。 ＇This circumstance was so remarkable that it has been thought worth while extracting the whole passage from the Gazette of April 23…26； 1666：
〃At the Sessions in the Old